US Navy’s AN/SPY-6 radar wraps up final round of tests with ballistic missile test

Photo: Raytheon

The US Navy’s AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) successfully tracked a ballistic missile target in the system’s final developmental test.

The test took place on January 31 and involved the launch of a short range ballistic missile target from the Pacific Missile Range Facility.

In what was the radar’s “most stressing test to date”, as per the radar manufacturer Raytheon, AN/SPY-6(V)1 AMDR searched for, detected, and maintained track on the target as predicted.

The final developmental test in a series of ballistic missile defense flight tests for the AN/SPY-6(V)1 AMDR was designated Vigilant Nemesis.

“The radar performed exactly as predicted. This completes our rigorous developmental test program to support the on-time delivery of the Navy’s newest Flight III destroyer.” Capt. Seiko Okano, major program manager for Above Water Sensors, Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS).

Based on preliminary data, the test successfully met its primary objectives. Program officials will continue to evaluate system performance based upon telemetry and other data obtained during the test.

Integrated air and missile defense testing commenced in March of 2017 with the successful completion of the first live ballistic missile flight test mission for the AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar named Vigilant Hunter. Vigilant Nemesis was the capstone ballistic missile test for the AN/SPY-6(V)1 AMDR and the 15th live ballistic missile test for the radar’s development phase.

Since its inception in January 2014, the program has met 20 of 20 milestones, ahead of or on schedule. The radar has progressed well through the navy’s testing program and is currently in production. It is on schedule for delivery to the navy’s first modernized DDG 51 Flight III, the future USS Jack H Lucas (DDG 125), in 2020.